Terminal structure for rail bonds



July 5, 1927.

K. J. MOSEBACH TERMINAL STRUCTURE FOR RAIL BONDS Filed June 2.3 1925 opening 12 is Patented" July 5', 1927. UNITED STATES 1,634,678 PATENT OFFICE.

KAiRL J'. MOSEBACH, OF PTTTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. I

TERMINAL STRUCTURE FOR RAIL BONDS.

Application filed June 23, 1925. Serial.No. 39,016.

My invention relates to electrical terminal structures for railway bonds and to the manner in which said structures are applied to the rails. i

One object of my invention is to provide a terminal of such form that it may be more easily secured to a track rail than those here'- tofore constructed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a terminal arrangement of such form that a better electrical contact between the conductor or cable portion of the bond and rail is secured.

Still anotherobject of my invention is to I simplify and improve generally the structure of electrical terminals.

One form which my invention may take is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a railway track to which my invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a plan view of aportion of the structure of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 .is a cross sectional view of the structure of Fig. 1', and Fig. t is a perspective view of the terminal which is shown more clearly in Fig. 2.

For purposes of illustration I have shown two railroad rails 5 and 6 that may be connected by a splice bar 7 in the usual manner. The splice bar 7 is held in place by the ordinary bolts 7*.

The electrical bond connecting these rails consists of a cable 8, preferablylof copper, to whose ends are secured terminal members 9 preferably stamped from sheet metal. My invention resides rimarily in the form of the terminals 9 an themanner in which they are mechanically and electricall connected to the rail sections and to the ca 1e 8.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the terminals 9 are each provided with the flat body portion 10 which is disposed beneath the underside of the rail as shown in Fig. 3. Extending upwardly and forwardly from the flat portion 10 is a curved portion 11 that is preferably formed by striking it up from the body portion 10 of the terminal. An

thus provided directly above the flat portion 10' wherein steel or other metal may be deposited by arc-welding or otherwise, when the'terminal is in place against the edge of the rail base, to firmly v secure said terminal to the base.

The upper portion 11 of the terminal has a forwardly extending lug; 13 that lies upon the upper face of the rail base and extends to approximately the web of the rail. In making the blank, a projection 14 is provided similar to 18 but this projection is bent to circular form as shown in Fig. 3, to tightly grip the end of the cable 8. After the terminals 9, with the cables 8 clamped thereon by the eye portions 14, are applied to the rail, a conducting'metal such as/copper is deposited-in .the pocket formed between the web of the rail and the projections 14 and 13 of the terminals, preferably by arc welding. because of its relatively great conductivity and the fact that it will readily unite with the exposed end of the cable 8 and also fuse to the rail.

If desired, the metal deposited in. the pocket referred to may be alone depended upon to maintain the clip in place, and the step of depositing metal in the opening 12 dispensed with.

By so constructing the terminals 9 that their eye portions lfl lie close to the web of the rail, the cable 8 will lie snugly against the vertical wall of the splice bar 7 and be protected somewhat by the heads of the bolts I prefer to employ-copper 7 from injury. Similarl the terminals will lie somewhat under an be protected by the rail head.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a structure of simple form which may be readily applied to a railroad track rail and which constitutes an effective electrical connection between the adjacent rail sections.

I claim as'my invention:

1. Terminal structure comprising a cable, a clip of sheet metal having a portion adapted to engage one side of the rail base, and a portion struck up therefrom adapted to engage the other side of said rail base, an

extension on said last-named portion adapted to be secured to the cable end, and another extension on the last-named portion spaced from the cable end in a direction longitudinally thereof.

2. Terminal structure comprising a cable, a clip of sheet metal having a portion adapted to engage one side of the rail base, and

a portion struck up therefrom adapted to engage the other side of said rail base, an extension on said last-named portion adapted to be secured to the cable end,-and another extension on the last-named portion spaced from the cable and in a direction longr tudinally thereof, the said struck up portion extending along either side of said firstnamed portion to form a pocket upon the adjacent side of the rail lease for the reception of molten metal. I

3. Terminal structure comprising a cable, a clip adapted to engage upper and lower surfaces of a rail base, a projection on said clip bent to circular form and surrounding the cable, and a second projection on the clip disposed adjacent to said first namedprogection and forming one Wall or a pocket for the reception of molten metal, the cable end protruding from said circular portion in position to be united with said molten metal,

asses ors 4:. Terminal structure comprising a cable, a clip adapted to engage upper and lower surfaces of a rail base, a projection on said clip bent'to circular form and surrounding the cable, and a second projection on the clip, disposed adjacent to said first-named projection and forming one Wall of a pocket for the reception of molten metal, the cable end protruding from said circular portion in position to be united with said molten metal which also fuses with the rail base.

In testimony whereof I, the said KARL J. MosnBAcH, have hereunto set my hand.

L KARL J. MOSEBACH. 

